A80611:296
Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life
Christ the fountain of life: or, Sundry choice sermons on part of the fifth chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.Christ the fountaine of life: or, Sundry choyce sermons on part of the fift chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.
London: printed by Robert Ibbitson, 1651
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
that good may be done by you in your places, in Church, and Family, and Commonwealth, and that thereby others might be brought on to God, and his Kingdom increased, this very motion and inclination of your hearts is an argument that you have a stirring spirit to spiritual duties, and this is spiritual life in Christ: And therefore, by how much the more God shall give you an heart to be doing your works and duties in this order, so much the more comfort you shall gather to your souls, that undoubtedly Christ hath shed abroad his spirit in you, by which you are able to do that which else you could not have reached unto.
that good may be done by you in your places, in Church, and Family, and Commonwealth, and that thereby others might be brought on to God, and his Kingdome increased, this very motion and inclination of your hearts is an argument that you have a stirring spirit to spiritual duties, and this is spirituall life in Christ: And therefore, by how much the more God shall give you an heart to bee doing your works and duties in this order, so much the more comfort you shal gather to your souls, that undoubtedly Christ hath shed abroad his spirit in you, by which you are able to doe that which else you could not have reached unto.
Quest. You say unto me, may not a good Christian man have his heart so dead, that he is unfit to pray; or preach, or to instruct his Family, or for the duties of his calling; fit, and good for nothing: And is a soul in such a case as this altogether void of spiritual life, and sanctification? is there not sometimes a kind of a coath come upon a Christian, that so benumbs his spirit, that he performs no duties at all, but if he might have his own mind, he would not pray at all, nor receive Sacraments? Is not this sometimes the case of Christian? and will you say that such an one is a dead soul, because he is altogether listless, and dead-hearted to move to any spiritual duty?
Quest. You say unto me, may not a good Christian man have his heart so dead, that he is unfit to pray; or preach, or to instruct his Family, or for the duties of his calling; fit, and good for nothing: And is a soule in such a case as this altogether void of spirituall life, and sanctification? is there not sometimes a kind of a coath come upon a Christian, that so benumbs his spirit, that he performes no duties at all, but if he might have his owne mind, he would not pray at all, nor receive Sacraments? Is not this sometimes the case of Christian? and will you say that such an one is a dead soule, because he is altogether listlesse, and dead-hearted to move to any spirituall duty?